Pump and pumping system.



B. S. AIKMAN.

PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM. m-r-wmnuu mm SEPT. 20. I915.

Patented J an. 15, 1918;

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

[ ve/75hr tori 6. 19 67017421 Eadie/Wags,

B, s. AIKMAN, PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20,1915.

Patented 'Jan. 15 1918.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 2- B. S. AIKMAN.

PUMP AND PUMPING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1915.

control is a. matter 'of priorart.

BURTON S. AIKMAN, till jllIIlL llif.

ELECTRIC C(JlliIPAIWll', MHZ; 4.

1,253,55&

atpnltcation Sept-ember To all whom it may camera.-

Be it known that it, Benton ti. i-

' the Unit tilt-ates, re

t tiaen ('J'll' illilw'anltee; in the county of Milwaukee and S e of lVisconsin, have invented a, certain new and useful Improvement in Pumps and Pumping Systems, of which thefollowing is a, full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the tlCGOlll-- ,n ving drawings, forming a part of tlie specification.

My invention relates to pumps'and. :)una :.i-- lag systems and contemplates an improved appzin'atus which may be employed an isolated plant forfurnishing water to a residence or an ii'idustrial establishment from a nearby source, such as a Well.

It is the purpose of my invention to pro vide an improved systei'n which supplies Water fresh from the Well, that is, Without the intervention of a storage or reserve tank, and which will be under faucet con trol, by Which I mean that the flow of We ter is controlled in the acts of opening and closing the faucets which form the sup iflyoutlets of the system.

To supply water fresh from the well and to maintain the flow of water under faucet The apparatus and systems heretofore known and used were, however, subject to inherent diflieulties due to the fact that their mode of operation required cmnplcxities such as al tcrnately-operating chambers, valves operating, by marginal differences in pressure, and due to the fact that the pneumatic control employed led to frequent misoperations such as are eonnnonly called hlowovers, Where the system hccomcs cleared of water and the com n'esscd air employed as an operating medium is Wasted.

According to my invention there is provided a single water-chamber alternately subject to air-pressure and relieved therefrom, thepllernations being secured hr the actnations of valve mechanisn'is. which, in turn, are dependent, on the one hand. directly and meclnn'iicallv upon the fall of the Water in the chamhcr, and on the other hand upon a positively-operating timeelement device.

It will he understood that the svstem is constantly under pressure, and it is, therefore, a further object of my invention to lliillllilUtIIlNSlf.

-i rail Li rateat. L-Latentetl darn ittl t.

1i tan leahs as possihle, which operates with a minimum consinrntiion rt air, and which. o 'ierate in Y an vel v.

Notwithstanding the gradual rise and fall. of the water in. the chamber, it provide means for suddenly actnatin the ralve mechanism, an especially deriiaxile fcatiiirei l'vly inrentioi'i is .illustratedjn. the accompanying drawings, in which:

l ig'nre 1 a more or less diagramniatie View illustrating the can. as a Wl'lfllil Fig, 2 is a plan View of the pump; A r

Fig" 3 is a vertical anial sectional view talten on the plane nt'the lin and looking in the direct. the arrows; p

' Fig, l is a vertical axial sectional View tahcn on the plane of line el l; of Fig and looking in the direction. iruiicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional "view taken on the plane of the line l'i--5 of Fig, 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the ar. rows, Figs. 2 and being drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 3 and t.

Referring first to Fig; Ifwhich, h fore stated, is diagrammatic, it "will he seen that the Well curbing is illustrated at S. the Wa ter-level being indicated at 9. The pump by the reference character 10, disposed in the well at a suitable d stance l'ielo'w the Water-level therein, will he descl'iloed,

The pump structure has leading" there: from three pipes. an air-pressure pipe 11, an exhaust-pipe 32 and a, water-dis harge pipe 13. The air-pressure pipe 11 is connected with a compressed-air tanlt 14:, in which air is compressed hv means of a compressor 15, operated. for instz'mcehy an electric-motor 16. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the eon'un'essor 15 may he operated by any suitable I'HEfiDS, snch a gas engine or steam engine, and, if desired, means may be provided for, automatically starting and stopping the prime mover de pendent upon thefall and; rise of pressure in the tank i l. In-the pipe llv the cut-off ll ti valve. 11, air strainer-11 ,-reducing valve 11". gage 11 and drain cock 11: are provided. i 1% The water-discharge pipe 13*lcads tore rious branch pipes 17' and 18. each of which in turn leads to an outlet faucet 19.; By

means of a pipe the discharge pipe 13 is connected with a chamber 21 closed except for the entr pipe 20, tor a purpose WhlCll. will be pointed out presently.

it will now he, understood that this system represents an isolated plant for. installation in a residence, for instance. The

watendischarge pipe leads from the well conveniently nearby, to the distribution pipe in the building, and the compressor, motor, compressed-air tank and chamber are suitably housed in any convenient way.

As before pointed out, air-pressure is constantly maintained upon the system. It is the 7 limits.

It will appear as this description proceeds that with the pressure properly maintained upon the system, everything is at rest so long as all the outlet-faucets of the system are closed, but as soon as one of them is opened the pumping mechanism will operate to maintain continuous the flow which immediately commences. When the faucet is again closed the apparatus comes to rest and it will appear that the feed has been direct from the well with the proper pressure to distribute it to whatever points desired.

I refer now to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, to describe the pumping mechanism. A headmember22 and a primary base-member 23, both of circular form, are joined by a cylindrical housing 24, which forms a waterchamber 25. I As illustrated inFig. 4, the head-member 22 and the primary base member 23 are tied together by means of two pipes 26, '26, which thread into the headmember 22"and pass through openings in the primary base-member 23, the lower ends of these-pipes being screw-threaded for the reception of nuts 27 which, when tightened,

clamp the housing 24 firmly in place to form a watertight and airtight compartment. Secured to the under side of the primary hasemember 23, by means of screws 28. 28, is the secondary base-member 29, which has extending downwardly therefrom a central boss 30 to'which a nut 31 is screwthreaded, between. the nut 31 and the bossi 30 and thus held against the under side of the sec-- B5 ondary base-member 29. Thesecondary a conical screen 32 being clamped base-member 29 is provided with two waterinlet openings 33, .33, each of which s controlled by a lift-valve 34, normally held seated by means of springs 35, 35, disposed between the respective valves and the pri-' 'mary base-member 23.

The primary base-member 23 is provided with an axial opening 37, which is surrounded by an upwardly-extending boss 38, a cylinder 39 being supported upon and extending upwardly from said boss, as clearly 4 shown in Figs. 3 and i. The top of the boss 38 forms a-valve-seat 40, and this valveseat is adaptedto be engaged by the ball float-valve 42, which is confined within the cylinder 39. As shown in Fig. 3, the top of the cylinder 39 is closed for the proper retention of the ball float-valve 42. The cylinder 39 is provided with elongated. vertical slots 43, through which the water may pass inwardly and outwardly, as will be ,de-

scribed. Entrance of water into the chamber 24 is thus provided through the screen 32, openings 33, 33, opening 37, and slots 43, 43. The exit of water from the chamber 24v is provided for through the slots 43, 43, the opening 37, the passageways 44., 4-1, formed by the spider construction of the top of the nuts 27, 27, and the pipes 26, 26, the further course of the water being later described.

passageway 47, it will be seen that it is so fashioned as to lead to the axial opening in the bottom of the head 22, a valve-seat 53 surrounding this opening.

-Supported from the under side of the head 22 is an annulus 54-, with the cylinder 24. This annulus forms a water chamber and supports a diaphragmchamber structure which will now-be described. This structure is composed ot two primary parts 55 and 56, the former being mounted in and closing the bottom of the annulus 54 and the latter being secured to the under side of the former with the diaphragm 57 clamped between the two. Thus, the diaphragm has on its upper side the diaphragm-chamber 58, and on its lower side the diaphragm-chamber 59. The central portion of the diaphragm 57 is clamped between a late 60"and a cup-member 61 by means of a' screw 62, This cup-member is disposed coaxially llll . for reoi v diiap d axially in t n: o 68 doi'ii'i farm-l so thiit it l. chain} nil up it tho 'viilviz -ol'oln fl: 663 mil The 1.

aenlil ho block lzh ron grh l l h omn ill ope- 'iih pri-ioord-hii A A. valvesoat. T3 siirroiii' l) 753 r olve 74, cmi'ii'i d hymn tho at 5 with this who it. who 7 lgunilod ll'1 control opi lino 7-: al lho top of tho hon (ll-flit il W? by a plug 76, a, Sin-hip: 77 is diopo. d.

.Tho lijm 'or ohd oi: the stem '55 ontiii'irls dowl'nvardly into tho G ll]?iimi'flllifil' ill in it is provid l with a head Ti l. ill. it be ongiziooiil h lho hol'lliom oi the (fllj'l-llli-BITI- her, illustrate, n Fig. 3 Th s; rim-inmoher l'niido in tho 1h ill of r. 'iii'lizr. in ordo'ii to pern'ii'l; ol tho lIil.-r1lllllfll'l of thin hmifl,-nirn'1- br. A sprii'lg 79 is fillSI')("lSEll brtwrrm a collar ()l'l tl'lfl hond-meml'ier and tho umlor side of the top (Tillltl'lfl on 'rnmmbmn The bottom of tho diophrnginohmmhi-r 59 is closed in? n mrtition fill lmtwrrn Whirl] and tho or HiGl of tho diaphragm hi a spring Bil in imed. .ln opening: 'lfi provided ool'itrnill in the ]')ll,'l"l'll7l0il 80, this opening beingoonlarollod hr it valve, 83, mil"- riod upon :1 stem 84 guided by me: 1 of ,llll-H 85 in'tho opening 82, As will be rlos wzrilwd, the top of the stem Fi l l5; :idii i'lihrl to ho engaged. by tho hrrmv i, in the downward n'u'ivoment of the rlii'ipl'ii'n g im to ripen tho valve 83 against tho ti-nsion of tho hl'llll'lfjf 86. The ohumher 87 lit-low {ho piir'titic'n'i Bil conneotm by moons: of ii siii'mll p121 mm wnv "with tho iii. are ENE-$21K! y 111 Thu upoor dizii'iihr 'hmnliior 08 is "provided with n rostrioad outlot 8.), Wl'liifll hfl'ords a tin'm element in the return of tho diaphragm 57 flfll'l'l its lower to its iipprr position. the interval thins provhilhcl for being utilized 'for the refilling of the minim.

The operation of my ump and systol'i'i is as follows: In the condition shown in Figs. 3 l'll'Kl 4; the anpamtus: has romizhod in point Whore the i'zons gn'rnoni oi Writer in the chamber 24 has boon driven therotliroi'n by the notion of ool'npri sod air ontorin 1 by way of tho linssagowayo 48, 7:2 Lind 49. Tho water has reached its lower have]; as; ilhi's- Fl, Whiol'i o mnii trated, and the hall floatwulvo 4:2.has boon.

for the reason that tho pressure is also UHTIS mitted to t by why hi: tho d i .11 ph riigrir-hh UL in chain 550.

i. be obviouo that While the expulsion opoli'atiijin is on the Water in the chain-- hors 5f) nmloitthe 'pIGSSlllk-B of the com- [)lIEhbGLl air :iml, Since that pressure is trans mittod to the mull-2r side of the diaphragm I? by moons; of tho pasoagoway 90, the dia phragm will be balanced so liar as effective :iir-p asisiliros :iiro concerned and will. ho rotninod in its umiormost position by means oil the wring 81. When however, the action marinas tho point illustrated in Figs. 3

"lo of tho cliii iihragm my 90 loading from .101" 59 to one of tho and. 4h tho pressure of tho motive fluid on the under side of the diu iihrngm 57 is out oil? by the who 4-2 and tho pressure on the! upper H'lfijl oi the diaphragm builds up until. it oassily woiromos the tension of the spring 81 21 ml the pros-sure oflho water in chamber 50. This moi" the itliziphrugm 57 toward its loworlnmt position @OIHPTPSSiIlg the spring 7.). Fiimlly the spring: overcomes tho prossuro holding valve (38 on its seat and s udrlonly oxpnmls. In this downvzird moroment of the diaphragm three changes occur.

The mlvo 74 is brought down on the soot '73, and the valve .68 is; broughtdown onl'l'io soot ill beczrus'so of the ongag'oment of tho top ()ill ii howl with tho under side of the top of 1 on i-momljmr .61, and tho VillVG 83 is n'lovod to its opoh position by reason of tho oi'lgagonlont of tho screw 62 with tho top of tho shim Bel. This action closes; oilitl'm com-- pri air to lho whim-elmmhor .25 zind. owns the wator-olnrmhor to the atinriifi 'ihorm ill; tho snino time the iilndor side of tho din-- phragg 'i ii? imposed to the atmosphere for oizhan tn l i'hon thmio conditions nro as sunmd tho rl i'no'nooo to hill, CMBUk-VfilVCS 34-, 34, opening ljllllflm l'ho Iii-ind oi Water in the well, and this notion co tiiuioo until tho valves are again ri-ivm'sl-irl. l p'rovido for this refilling pl'llml as follows: ll will ho soon that, as. Flmil'i his ihr valvos have horn thrown in thoir lowermost position, the diaphragm 57 will in'imodilitoly begin to rise under tho influence of the spring" 81. It rounded in rosmiling this position, however, became the water in tho diaphragm-chamber must zi'll find its Way out through the restricted passageway 89, since the large passageway 'ihor immediately coin cup-member 51 and the rim loseu by the valve 68. The

ion. between the valveiember 61, has been ,4 ot a. considerable upward ment of the diaphragm 51' before the uloin ot the ca nber engages the botm of the need 78 to raise the stem. The

n "t t' upward movement prior to he steps is dependei'it upon 89, and I am thereablcd to prov'de whatever time is :y for refilling, dependent upon conbeen my experience that, with a we built substantially along the lines illustrated in. the drawings, and sub oi those proportions, submerged feet below the level of the water in I ll. 5; period of about 1.5 seconds is re regulate the size of the aperature 89 to period of that time for the upin vcment of the diaphragm 57 before ov T8 is engaged the bottom of the d position. i. pe stem 8-1 of the valve 83 is not engaged until alter the dimghragm 57 has. made a. considerable downward movement and, conversely released after a small portion of the upward movement of the diaphragm has been accomplished. The downward movement of the diaphragm and the opening of the valve 83 releases the water confined there, and in the upward movement of the diaphragm the valve closes, under the following tension of the spring 86, to retain the water above it.

It may be assumed that in this refilling operation which has been described the water reaches the level indicated by the dotand-dash line. at'which time the valves are evcrsed so as to close the chamber to the atmosphere and-open it to the compressed air.

will be kept in mind that in the refillmg operation the lioat-valve rises with [be entering water and goes to the top of the cylmder 3.1, where it remains until the level of the water has been lowered to a point where it may take the ball valve down with it. again. The continued application of the compressed air now forces out the water in the chamber 25, the water passing through the opening 37. the openings 44, 44., the pipes 26, 26, the chambers 50, 50, and thencev il'n'ougli openings 91, 91, past the check valves 92,92, and into the secondary waterchan'zber 51, these checlovalves being held on their seats under normal conditions by ot the springs 93, disposed bet en the valves and the plugs 9d, 94.

cm the chamber 51 the water passes to red PM. the filling operation, and I there-.

nent here to point out that the.

sure on the top of the water in the chamber 25, there is no outlet for the water. When the water is forced out through the discharge-pipe 13 it will be seen that, in addition to going to the distribution pipes 17 and 1 8, the water will also be forced into the air-chamber 21, confining an air-cushion above the water-level formed therein, as indicated in dotted lines.

The speed with which the water-chamber fills to the upper level of course depends upon the sizes of the inlet passageways and the head of the water in the well, As before indicated, witha structure as shown, the time is about 1.5 seconds. If the capacity of the dischargeand distribution-pipes is great enough this momentary cessation of pressure will be hardly perceptible atthe faucets, particularly since the expulsion period, assuming one or more faucets to be open for a considerable length of time, cons sumes practically all of the time. However, in order that the gap in. the flow'may be properly filled in, I provide the air-cha nber 21, to which the part 20 delivers from the discharge-pipe 13. Obviously, when the Water in thedischargc-pipe'lil is under pressure, as it is practically all of the time, a certain amount of water is forced up into the chamber 21. This action compresses the air in the chamber and forms a cushion,which. is maintained so long as the pressure is notrclieved. As soon as the pressurei's relieved, however, by the cessation of pressure in the pump with a faucet open, the air is given opportunity to expand and in doing so forces out the water which has become packed therein and provides a flow from the faucet guished fromla storage-tank. since all it does is to increase the capacity of the system and provide means for a certain'amou'nt of compression to be released for a very short period, about 1.5 seconds, at a time.

It will be understood that this water which isin the chamber 21 is directly :1 part" ofthe discharge system, being located in effect directly between the well and the faucet, and the small consignment of water is constantly being changed. In this way a. continuous flow from the faucets is insured.

I have found by experiment that the air in the chamber 21 is kept properly replen H tom it "d. by hul of air Whieh follow the palsioin. of we; r from the Water-chainher 25' of the pump structure, and: that it is auto- 1i i l from an excess of air by :i'aueet, this latter action ms and impereeptible to the Water termi 1'1 .he a r level of the water is d by a posltively and unitormly operating time element. lie this ay reliable operation is seemaiid a1 i the desimble smlden action of the valve at l l and areiillihg or emptyijrig ope ital is etively obtained. Suetion they be on the pipe 12, it ll sir-d, Unit of the broad features of the pi sent invei. i are disclosed-and claimed in my pr' aiding application Serial apt. 16th 1915.

I have ind ireiilv to embody the features of my invention. in a simple structure iii-- Yolvirig a minimum member of parts of sii. ple design, and some of the more lim '..l of the appended claims are direetetl to these there specific fea I. claim:

..ii a pump, a l "till ['fjlilfillfllflfil, at). auxeharaber airing inlet and. outlet said auxiliary chamber being eon with said watei:'-el1amher, an exhaustuse a port for said a zter-chamber, compressedair pt 1 for said. Water-chamber, valves tor said ports, pre said, valves, one side of saicl pre iaremeans being: exposed to the pressure in said (HUI- iliary ehaijnber to close the eahaast port a open the compressed. air pr. arid the oil side being exposed. to the pressure in st. Water-chamber to o en ti. exl'iaus close the oompres ed air port, and a val for controlling the eimaeetions between said chambers.

2. Iii a panama Water'chamher, an at "iort and iliary ehamli'iei." having inlet and o1. valves said auxiliary chamber being oi aeeh with said Water-ehamhea at the be the latter, as ex'ha st po 1a p 1e compress. i a port, and the i being exposed. to the pressure ill sai rliiamber to open the exhaust port and elose the compressed air port, and a'tlo valve tor controlling the muneotions beta ehamhers.

In a pump, a 'Wate1:"-elianiher, are iliary chamber having. inlet ai oatle" valves said. auxiliary chamber heii'ig core heated, with said. Water-chamber, an exhaustrearreans for operating said. ports, .pressare-means for operating said valves or. side of said pressare-means being posed tothe pressure in s amp iliary ghainber, and the other side heiiig ea posed to the pressure in said Water-oi alve tor eon 21"0llii'1gg; the canoe one be tween said chambers, and a valve for eonthe ap ilieatioh of the prestaire in said Wateechamher to "aid plBSSH.IE-Il10tll15l.

4i" In a pump, a We r--ehan'1ber, an aim-- iliary ehal'aber lltlvll'lg inlet and. outl't valves said auxiliary chamber being emineetec 'it'i'tl'i said water-chamber, an exhaust ort or said Wateechamber, a oon'ipres; dair port for Water-chamber, valves for said ports, pres-iare-means for operating said valves, one side'of said PIQSSLIIBflTIQELXIS being expo to "the pressure in said. aaxiliai y ehaaii. and the otl'ier side bei T posed. to the on are in said Water hi ii a valve for ermtrolling; the connections l tween said ehaiiabers, a valve for eontroll' mg the application of the pressure in f Waterchamber to said 'press'lare-itiearis and means for connecting the lirstaiamed side of said. pressure-mealns to the exhaust a a pump, a wad -cha1nher,

iliary ohamher llilllll'ig inlet and. outletvalves said auxilary chamber being eon-- nested with .ld we r-ehamber, an port for said W11hehfilllfll'llbelr a eoi air port for said et er-ellamber. piesqaremeans connected on one side with the auxilia y el'iamher, and on the other side coninested w'ith the interior of the Wate. 1 her by a mainfaod a restricted passa a valve struetare operaix ii hy said pr'essin-e means andeojntrollihg saiiii. mama and or: pressed-air ports-and said main passe h. in a pump, a iltflli' ehai'i'iber, as 11.11%- iliary eha 'nber haw" inlet and outlet J valves said auxiliary chamber being? (30th nected with said vcater-ehamber, mi exhaust port for said Water-eltai'nber a (amiin'esseci air port for said. Wa 'ar-ehamiber, ijiressure -"aiis coaa eted ermineside with the a A; ry ehah'il W and. on the. other side (onaeeted. with the interim." ol the Water-ehamher by a main and a restricted pa age'wav. a valve structure operated by said pressure means and COHi TOlliD chamber, arr auxiltee interior of the water-chamber by a main and a restricted passageway, a valve structure operated bysaid pressure-means and controlling said exhaust and compressed-air ports and said main passageway to close the exhaust-port, open the-"compressed airport, and open said main. passageway in one direcjtion and reverse the action in the opposite direction.

9. In a ump, a water-chamber, an auxiliary cham er having inlet and outlet valves said auxiliary chamber being connected with said water-chamber, an exhaust-port for said water charnber, a compressed-air port' for said Water-chamber, pressure-means connected on one side with the auxiliary chamber, and on the other side connected with the interior of the water-chamber by a main and a restricted passageway, a valve structure operated by said pressure-means and c ntrolling said exhaust and compressed-air ports and said main passageway to close the exhaust-port, open the compres'sed air port and open said main passageway in one direction and reverse the action in the opposite direction, and to open a relief on the firstnamed side of the pressurc-means in the latter direction.

10. In a pump, a water-chamber, an auxiliary chamber having inlet and outlet valves said auxiliary chamber being connected with said water-chamber, an exhaust-port for said water-chamber, a compressed-air port for said water-chamber, pressure-means connected on one side with the auxiliary chamber,

and on the other side connected with the in terior of the water-chamber by a main and -water-chamber, a compressed-air port for said water-chamber, pressure-means connected on one side with the auxiliary chamher, and on the other side connected with the interior of the water chamber by a main and a restrictedpassageway, a valve structure operated by said pressure-meansand controlling said exhaust and compressedair ports and.said main passageway, said valve structure being moved by the latter portion of the movement of said pressure-means.

12. In a ump, a water-chamber, an aux-- iliary chain er having inlet and outlet valves said auxiliary chamber being connected with said water-chamber, an exhaust-port for said water-chamber, a corhpressedeir port for said water-chamber, pressure-means connected on one side with the auxiliary charm her, and on the other side connected witl the interior of the Waterechamber by a main and a restricted passageway, a valve struc tureoperated by saidpressureaneans and controlling said exhaust and compressed-air ports and said main passageway, and a floatvalve controlling the connection between said water-chamber and said auxiliary chamber, said fioat valve being confined for vertical movement in a cylinder through which water may pass.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of'Septeniber, A. D 1915'.

BURTON s. anti rm 

